DHAKA, 13 January 2022, (TON): Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, has been unanimously elected as President of the UN Women Executive Board for the year 2022.

With this, Bangladesh takes up the Presidency of the UN Women Executive Board for the first time.

Ambassador Fatima earlier served as the President of UNICEF Executive Board in 2020 and as Vice President of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board in 2021.

The election of the five-member bureau was held in New York, which also elected the Permanent Representatives of Argentina, Ukraine, Iceland and Sierra Leone as the vice presidents.

The executive board provides strategic guidance to UN Women, the UN agency dedicated to gender equality and empowerment of women.

KABUL, 13 January 2022, (TON):  West said “the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West talked with former president Hamid Karzai and former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah on a range of issues.”

West said that in separate telephone discussions he discussed humanitarian aid, human rights and the way forward with Karzai and Abdullah.

He tweeted “I had the opportunity to speak yesterday with (former president) Karzai and Dr. Abdullah separately. Thankful for their valuable counsel on international engagement in support of the Afghan people, the humanitarian and economic situation, rights of women and girls and minority groups, and the way ahead this winter.”

Abdullah also said he had talked with West about the situation in Afghanistan and added that he hopes all sides take actions to prevent a catastrophe in Afghanistan.

Abdullah said in a tweet “we exchanged views on the current humanitarian crisis, new initiatives and practical solutions to address the livelihood, liquidity, educational and healthcare challenges facing Afghan men and women.”

Hamid Karzai also in a tweet says that he and West talked about the humanitarian situation and girls’ education in Afghanistan.”

NEW DELHI, 13 January 2022, (TON): Army Chief General MM Naravane said “any intimidation from the Chinese army will be firmly dealt with.”

Gen Naravane said that the Army continues to maintain a high level of vigil and alertness on the northern border, while also continuing to engage with China through military-level talks.

While there has been a partial disengagement, the threat in eastern ladakh has by no means reduced, Naravane warned, adding that now India is much better prepared to deal with any challenge.

He also said that the situation in J&K has shown a gradual improvement.

On the western front, there is an increase in the concentration of terrorists in various launch pads & there have been repeated attempts of infiltration across the LC.

This once exposes the nefarious designs of our western neighbour," Gen Naravane said, without naming Pakistan.

The army chief added “since January last year, there have been positive developments along the northern and western borders.”

Gen Naravane also said that the Nagaland firing incident will be thoroughly probed, while stressing that the overall security situation in the North east remains under control.

NEW DELHI, 13 January 2022, (TON): India’s Supreme Court has issued notice to a northern Himalayan state following a petition that sought to prosecute several Hindu religious leaders for allegedly calling for a genocide of Muslims at a closed-door meeting last month.

Three Supreme Court judges said “they were notifying the Uttarakhand state government that they will investigate the case next week.”

According to a police complaint “the religious leaders called on Hindus to arm themselves to kill Muslims during a meeting in the northern holy town of Haridwar, in Uttarakhand, in December.”

The police said “they were questioning suspects over the hate speech, but no arrests have been made.”

Videos of the event had sparked outrage, prompting demands for action. In one clip that went viral, a speaker at the gathering told the crowd that people should not worry about going to jail for killing Muslims.

The woman said “even if just a hundred of us become soldiers and kill two million of them, we will be victorious … If you stand with this attitude only then will you able to protect ‘sanatana dharma’ [an absolute form of Hinduism.”

DHAKA, 13 January 2022, (TON): Outgoing US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller expressed hope that the excellent relations between the two countries would reach new heights in the future, noting that a high-level delegation from Washington would visit Dhaka within the next few months.

He said “the delegation has started preparations to discuss various issues of mutual interest with a view to taking the relations between the two countries to a higher level.”

Ambassador Miller made the remarks during his farewell meeting with Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser, Dr Gowher Rizvi, at the Prime Minister's Office.

The meeting between them lasted for an hour from 4:30pm, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Ambassador Miller was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Dhaka Helen LaFave and Political Section Chief Arturo Hines.

DHAKA, 13 January 2022, (TON): Bangladesh Navy's annual sea exercise "Exercise Safeguard-2021" concluded with successful missile firing into the Bay of Bengal.

A press release issued by the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate said “Planning Minister MA Mannan witnessed the exercises on the final day of its 15-day annual sea exercise as chief guest.”

The release said “Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal was also present on the occasion.”

A large number ships of Bangladesh Navy including frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels (OPV), minesweepers, patrol craft, missile boats, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopter participated in the exercise.

WASHINGTON, 12 January 2022, (TON): A group of Afghans, including former government officials and representatives of civil society organizations, held a one-day conference in Washington in an effort to encourage communication and cooperation between US authorities and the Taliban government in Kabul to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

The Afghan Peace and Humanitarian Task Force said it wants to help keep all lines of communication open between the international community and the Taliban in an effort to prevent a humanitarian disaster.

Conference organizers said “the Afghan Peace and Humanitarian Task Force is initiating the Washington Conference on Peace and Humanitarian Assistance for Afghanistan primarily to forge common terms between the United States and the Taliban government, and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the starving Afghans (to prevent) the unfolding catastrophe.”

The participants also discussed the potential security threat to the US and the wider world if Afghanistan remains isolated, as it was under the 1990s Taliban rule.

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi addressed the conference from Kabul. He answered questions and pledging cooperation with the international community to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

He told media that the humanitarian situation is dire and the lack of international recognition of local financial institutions in Afghanistan is complicating access to international aid.

BRUSSELS, 12 January 2022, (TON): US First Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed with the Secretary General of the North Atl-antic Treaty Organization Jens Stoltenberg the upcoming meeting of the Russia-NATO Council on January 12.

The diplomat wrote on her Twitter page “I met with Jens Stoltenberg to discuss tomorrow’s meeting of the NATO-Russia Council and the necessary actions by Russia to reduce tensions.”

She added that during the dialogue, a common approach to Russia was reaffirmed, combining the policy of dialogue and containment.

Sherman said “we underlined our unwavering support for Ukraine.”

She said “I briefed the North Atlantic Council on yesterday’s dialogue with Russia at the Strategic Stability Consultation in Geneva. The United States is committed to working closely with our allies and partners and is calling for a de-escalation and response to the Russia-caused security crisis.”

NEW YORK, 12 January 2022, (TON): The UN expressed great concern over allegations that the ports of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah are being used for warfare by the Houthi militia, as the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement demanded access for inspection.

The UNMHA reminded parties to the conflict that the ports are a crucial lifeline for millions of Yemenis, called on them to preserve the civilian character of the ports’ infrastructure, and urged restraint in resolving the matter.

Last week, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen condemned the Houthis for using the ports to launch attacks on global maritime trade, as well as produce and smuggle weapons.

The coalition said “the Houthi rebels have been practicing piracy in the international waters of the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab, which threatens maritime security and poses a big threat to global trade.”

It added that the Houthis’ attack on the UAE’s Rawabi ship is “a severe violation of international laws and threatens maritime security.”

The coalition said the seized vessel was carrying medical supplies. Its hijacking by the Houthis raised fears that the conflict could spill over into the Red Sea, a vital maritime route for oil and trade between Europe and the Middle East.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed concern over the renewed fighting in Yemen, which “can only have a negative impact on the already extremely dire humanitarian situation” in the country.

PARIS, 12 January 2022, (TON): From 300 to 400 Russian mercenaries are operating in central Mali, a senior French armed forces ministry official said, challenging an assertion by the West African country’s junta that only Russian military trainers are deployed there.

The 15-state regional bloc said “other West African nations have closed their borders with Mali, severed diplomatic ties and imposed economic sanctions in response to its delay in holding elections following a 2020 military coup.”

The moves were also a response to the arrival of private military contractors from the Russian Wagner Group, whose members are mostly ex-service personnel.

The French official told reporters “I would say there are around 300-400 members of Wagner and there are also Russian trainers, who provide equipment.”

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Russian mercenaries had deployed with Malian forces to the center of the country.

Mali’s junta, which has proposed a five-year transition rather than stepping down in February as initially planned, has said the new forces are military instructors who came with equipment they bought from Russia.

The European Union has imposed sanctions on the Wagner Group, accusing it of clandestine operations on the Kremlin’s behalf. President Vladimir Putin has said the group does not represent the Russian state, but that private military contractors have the right to work anywhere in the world as long as they do not break Russian law.